[Scene: Pit of Despair]Fezzik: He's dead.Inigo: Is just not fair.from The Princess Bride

Oh no! In this scene, we find poor Westley (apparently) dead in the Pit of Despair. And Inigo voices the opinion we're all having this week: is just not fair.

I wonder where we got the idea that life is fair? Perhaps because we live in a modern world with advanced justice systems and proceedings and processes.

Even as kids, we were very conscious of fairness. Slices of cake had to be measured for equality. A line was drawn across the back seat of the car to make sure we each had the same amount of space. Christmas gifts had to be practically identical (yet different) to keep one from feeling less loved than another.

As an adult, after experiencing an onslaught of events that certainly didn't seem fair, I began to question the idea of even using fairness as a measurement. Because life isn't fair - not in any way. It's messy and unfair. So perhaps getting hung up on the fairness of anything is counterproductive, because we get stuck on it and can't see anything else.

This week I am trying to focus instead on what goodness I can see, feel, hear, taste. And there is a lot of it. There is an outpouring of love, support and good energy right now. Weaving a web of connection between humans and families and communities. It isn't fair, but it is what we have. And maybe we can make it work for us and for those for whom life has just been desperately unfair.

One can sense the sadness in her eye. Yes, life is not fair, here every school has a guard, not against student shooters, but against terrorists. I feel nothing will be done unless a very private school is sited, G_d forbid!

Reply

jen

2/18/2018 09:30:40 am

I suppose I should have known guards would be necessary where you are, too! I can't imagine how a child can really learn under threat of violence. A private site would be great, but most could not afford to go there. :(

Reply

Carol Edan

2/18/2018 10:49:32 am

what I meant was that until the really rich get hit nothing much will happen! I don't wish shooting on anyone, rich or poor. But the rich hold all the strings as far as weapons are concerned, Kids here take the guards as "matter of fact" and don't feel threatened. There are however communities further south where the picture is different.

jen

2/18/2018 02:02:26 pm

Ooooooh! That makes sense. I cannot imagine growing up with guards being a "matter of fact"!!! But we have to do whatever it takes to protect the kids from people who will target them. Ack. The whole thing is heartbreaking.